Classical Net

The Internet's Premier Classical Music Source

Related Links

Recommended Links

Give the Composers Timeline Poster



Site News

What's New for
Winter 2018/2019?

Site Search

Follow us on
Facebook    Twitter

Affiliates

In association with
Amazon
Amazon UKAmazon GermanyAmazon CanadaAmazon FranceAmazon Japan

ArkivMusic
CD Universe

JPC
ArkivMusic

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

CD Review

Franz Liszt

New Discoveries – 2

  • Preludes et Harmonies poetiques et religieuses S. 171d
  • Concerto sans orchestre S. 524a
  • Album-Leaf: Magyar in B Flat minor S. 164e/2
  • Ungarischer Marsch in B Flat Major S. 229a
  • Pensees 'Nocturne' S. 168b
  • Four Album-Leaves
  • lieb, so lang du lieben kannst! S. 540a
Leslie Howard, piano
Hyperion CDA67455 80m DDD
Find it at AmazonFind it at Amazon UKFind it at Amazon GermanyFind it at Amazon CanadaFind it at Amazon FranceFind it at Amazon Japan

As if 95 discs encompassing the entire oeuvre of Liszt's piano music was not enough, Leslie Howard is now already into his second volume of 'New Liszt Discoveries', another fascinating compendium of works that have been forgotten for over a century. At just under 80 minutes, this release is also a splendid exercise in economy packaging and provides the discerning piano enthusiast with a veritable treasure trove of music.

The first eight pieces are grouped together in what is known as the 'Preludes et Harmonies poetiques et religieuses'. These date from an 1845 sketchbook and include some wonderful music such as the 2nd in C minor, 'Langueur' or the 4th in D flat questionably tiled 'Derniere illusion'. We are also told that the 4th, 6th and 8th pieces have been completed from other material by Howard himself who plays, as usual, as though he were the composer re-incarnated.

I greatly enjoyed the 'Concerto sans orchestre' which features some dazzling virtuoso parts, summarily dispatched by the indefatigable Howard. The minute Album Leaves are undiscovered gems as is the sprightly Hungarian March. Finally we have a fascinating draft of the evergreen 'Lieberstraume #3' which is dated at sometime in the 1840's. This window on the composer's work is a fine way to end this essential disc, another towering statement of purpose from the great Leslie Howard and the ever enterprising Hyperion label.

Copyright © 2004, Gerald Fenech

Trumpet

© 1995-2024 Classical Net
Use of text, images, or any other copyrightable material contained in these pages, without the written permission of the copyright holder,
except as specified in the Copyright Notice, is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved.